Only four players have received Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors four times in a season since the creation of the award in 2019. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita became the fourth one on Monday following his performance in the Wildcats' 27-10 win over 19th-ranked UCLA on Saturday.
Fifita, in his fifth consecutive start since taking over for Jayden de Laura, who suffered an ankle injury at the end of the third quarter in Arizona's win at Stanford, completed 25 of 32 passes for 300 yards, three touchdowns and interception. His 300 yards are the most passing yards UCLA allowed all season.
Fifita's only noticeable blemish was his first-quarter interception inside UCLA territory.
“We just misread the play. The play should’ve gone to somebody else, but he snapped right back. ... We all just reset and went to the next play," Fisch said. "He reset, wound up making great decisions the rest of the game and made some spectacular throws.”
Against UCLA's elite pass-rushing defensive line on third-and-10 in the second quarter, Fifita escaped from a collapsing pocket, evaded into open space, put his cleat in the turf, juked Bruins linebacker Kain Medrano and ran for 18 yards — the most rushing yards UCLA surrendered on a play all season; it ranks first in the Pac-12 in rushing defense.
All of Fifita's touchdowns were to Arizona's starting receiver trio of Tetairoa McMillan, Jacob Cowing and Montana Lemonious-Craig, who scored his first touchdown since the UTEP game.
Since leading the Wildcats to a come-from-behind win at Stanford, Fifita is 3-2 as Arizona's starting quarterback and has led the Wildcats to three straight wins over ranked opponents — a first in program history.
In 21 quarters as Arizona's starter, Fifita has completed 140 of 185 passes (76%) for 1,499 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions.
